Artichoke plant named &#39;ps-ig0092&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of artichoke plant named ‘PS-IG0092’, characterized by its moderate bud size, fleshiness of bracts, fleshiness of hearts, and uniformity of head shapes.

[0001] Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed:

[0002]Cynara scolymus L.

[0003] Variety denomination:

[0004] PS-IG0092

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofartichoke plant, botanically known as Cynara scolymus L. and hereinreferred to by the cultivar name ‘PS-IG0092’.

[0006]Cynara scolymus L., commonly known as Globe artichoke, is athistle-like perennial herb and is a member of the family Asteraceae.Globe artichokes comprise leaves which are pinnately lobed but primarilyspineless, globose capitula composed of overlapping layers of largevolucral bracts, and receptacles which are enlarged and fleshy. Globeartichoke plants may be propagated by division and are essentially grownfor the production of the immature flower heads, which are considered asvegetable delicacies. Fresh artichokes may be steamed or boiled, afterwhich the fleshy receptacle, inner and outer bracts, and parts of thefloral stem may be eaten.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programcarried out by the inventor, William J. Colfer at Chowchilla, Calif. in1997. The female parent is CTC6 (seed parent) and the male parent isGG2059EC1-21-14 (pollen parent). The new cultivar was discovered fromthe progeny of the stated cross by William J. Colfer and was asexuallypropagated for the first time in 1997 in Watsonville, Calif.

[0008] Asexual propagation by division has demonstrated the stability ofthe combination of characteristics of the new cultivar from generationto generation.

[0009] The new cultivar has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and daylength, withoutany change in the genotype of the cultivar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The accompanying photographic drawing shows fruit and leaves froma typical specimen plant of ‘PS-IG0092’, with color being depicted aspossible with illustrations of this type.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0011] The following observations, measurements and values describeplants of ‘PS-IG0092’ grown in Chowchilla, Calif. under conditions whichclosely approximate those generally used in horticultural practice.

[0012] All color references below are measured against The Munsell Bookof Color, Munsell Color Macbeth Division of Kollomogen Corporation.Colors are approximate as color depends on horticultural practices suchas light level and fertilization rate, among others.

[0013] Chowchilla is located in California's central San Juaquin valley.Conditions can vary greatly during the summer months. Air temperaturecan range between the low 20's (degrees Fahrenheit) in the winter towell above the 100 (degrees Fahrenheit) during the summer months.Relative humidity is generally low with values ranging from the mid 40'sto the high 60's. Prevailing winds are westerly and rainfall rarelyexceeds 15″ (inches) of rainfall.

[0014] In the following description, holding quality was measured by thephysical appearance of the harvested heads. This includes the headsappearance following 3, 7 and 10 day storage periods in a cold storageroom held at 34 (degrees Fahrenheit). Head exterior (oxidation) wasobserved at each of the three observation points. Browning andblackening of plant tissue was evaluated as light, moderate and extreme.Juiciness was measured by observing exudate and rated as absent,moderate or excessive. Overall storage response was measured byobservations concentrated on visible color variability and/or presenceof lesions or other cosemetic anomalies. Leaf ratio (L/W) was determinedby dividing representative leaf sample length measurements byrepresentative leaf sample width measurements. Finally, head response to(weather) was determined by observing the heads at maturity. These fieldobservations focus on presence or absence of bronzing, necrotic andchlorotic lesions or any abiotic response to environmental conditions.These data are reported as the possible causal event(s) and thendescribe the detailed head and plant responses.

[0015] It should be noted that these data were collected from first yeartissue culture outplants. These data are subject to change in theplant's future growth and development. The new and distinct cultivar ofArtichoke plant named ‘PS-IG0092’ is characterized by:

[0016] 1. moderate bud size;

[0017] 2. fleshiness of bracts;

[0018] 3. fleshiness of hearts; and

[0019] 4. uniformity of head shapes. TABLE 1 Parentage: Male parent:GG2059EC1-21-14 (Pollen parent) Female parent: CTC6 (Seed parent)Classification: Botanical: Cynara scolymus L. Commercial: artichoke c.v.PS- IG0092 Propagation: Asexual production either by tissue culture ordivision. Plant: Height: {overscore (x)} = 131.66 cm range:127.00-139.70 cm Growth Habit: Upright Dimensions: {overscore (x)} =131.66 cm (h) × 148.34 cm (w) range: 127.00 cm (h) × 142.88 cm (w) SideShoots: {overscore (x)} = 2.00 range: 1.00-3.00 Foliage Density: Densityis great in the upper and lower canopy Side Shoot Development: Moderateside shoot development Capitulum: Size: Primary: 33.66-35.56 cmSecondary: 28.58-30.48 cm Shape: Flat, spherical. Spherical heads havebroad mid-sections with a flat apex. Number: {overscore (x)} =5.70/plant range: 3.0-8.0 heads/plant Texture: Intermediate, smooth.Fragrance: Aromatic. All bracts and upper pe- duncle tissues are highlyaromatic, sweet odor. Bract Size: {overscore (x)} = 6.89 range:6.20-7.40 cm (1) × 4.8-5.8cm (w) Bract Shape: Bracts are predominantlyoval shaped with moderate constriction on the basal portions BractTexture; Smooth, very slight texture Bract Number: {overscore (x)} =50.80 bracts range: 48-54 bracts Bract Color: Inner: 2.5 GY 9/2 - 2.5 GY9/4 Outer: 5 GY 9/2 - 5 GY 8/4 Bract Basal Thickness: {overscore (x)} =7.58 mm range: 5.0-9.0 mm Heart Description: Concave, full. Heartdimensions are broad and thick in the outer portions of the heart HeartColor: 7.5 Y 9/2 Papus Length: {overscore (x)} = 11.83 mm range:10.0-13.0 mm Papus Color: Variable white coloration. Papus turnsslightly golden as it oxidizes. Overall Cold Storage Response: Good.Those areas damaged during harvest did blacken, seems to oxidizerapidly. Head Firmness: Firm. Heads maintain good firmness duringmaturation. Bract Firmness: Malleable. Bracts are malleable andflexible. Gloss: Dull. Heads have a distinct opaque, chlorotic spine -line pattern that is slightly spherical. Cold Storage (hold quality):Good cold storage response. Slight oxidation observed (browning). HeadExterior (oxidation): Moderate. Bruised and harvest dam- aged regionblacken and oxidize quickly. Juiciness: Moderate presence. Peduncle andbract tissues have moderate juice presence following cutting and tissueremoval. Head Response (weather): No adverse head response wereobserved. Foliage: Length: {overscore (x)} = 11.38 cm range: 97.6-119.4cm Width: {overscore (x)} = 63.65 range: 59.1-68.7 cm Leaf Serrations:{overscore (x)} = 47.19 range: 25.0-77.0 cm Leaf Basal Angle: {overscore(x)} = 40.83 degrees range: 30-55 degrees Leaf Ratio (L/W): {overscore(x)} = 1.77 range: 1.50-2.01 Leaf Area: {overscore (x)} = 7,154 cm²range: 6173.2-8155.0 cm² Color: 5 GY 4/2 - 5 GY 4/4 - 5 GY 3/6 Texture:Smooth - slightly textured range. Leaf color gives the leaf a soft,smooth appearance. Veination: Intermediate, greenish. Veination isdistinct, but light green in color. Pubescence: Leaf pubescence is densegiving leaf a soft, supple appearance. Leaf Basal Thickness: {overscore(x)} = 17.47 range: 15.0-23.0 mm Leaf Distance Between Serrations:{overscore (x)} = 42.97 mm range: 30.0-65.0 mm Petiole Length:{overscore (x)} = 23.43 cm range: 20.1-28.2 cm Petiole Width: {overscore(x)} = 3.50 cm range: 3.0-4.0 cm DISEASE RESISTANCE: No observationsmade GENERAL OBSERVATIONS:

[0020] This new artichoke cultivar is a unique type that exhibits thefollowing characteristics. The plants moderate height, ranging from127-139 cm. Its comparative head qualities to California's artichokevariety Green Globe include: green (non-glossy) exterior coloration,comparable head numbers. Head numbers ranging from 3-8 heads per plant.Head shape does vary displaying a pronounced flat, spherical shape.These non-glossy heads are produced in the sizes ranging from (18)primary, size (30) secondaries and size (48) tertiaries. Floral stalkdevelopment and head numbers can vary. Anthocyanin coloration is presentin innermost interior bracts and found on only some outer, exteriorbract edges. Its presence is characterized as light. The head spinosityis slightly more prominent on these notched bracts. The average spinelength ranges between 1.5-2.0 mm. The plants upright growth habit isintermediate, but is very vigorous. The canopies coloration is a deepergreen/green/yellow color with some colors ranging towards darkergreen/green/grey hues. These colors on Munsell Leaf Color Chart rangefrom 5 GY 4/2-5 GY 4/4-5 GY 3/6. Leaf spinosity is light to moderate,categorized as few. Floral stalk development during anthesis produces apurple flower. Flower color varies with flower maturity. The phenotypiccharacteristics of this cultivar may vary slightly, depending uponvariation in the environmental factors. Including weather (temperature,humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type, farming practices,location and time of year.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of artichoke plant named“PS-IG0092”, as described and illustrated.